Ask your cooperating teacher about their class policies. How do they introduce their policies and enforce them throughout the year? Does he or she begin the year going over basic skills, e.g. measurement, or do they begin the year with course topics? Obtain a copy of any handouts about policies or safety from the first week of class.
Placement: Narragansett H.S. , Mr. Reis
Classes Observed: Freshmen Physics/Earth Science, Accelerated Biology
Observation:
Mr.Reis has a very positive classroom atmosphere, fun yet, respectful. He starts out each year by going over his one "golden" rule..."We must maintain and environment conducive to learning." This rule depends on the students being respectful of not only their teacher, but also of one another. If there happens to be a student acting out in class, Mr. Reis does not call them out in front of their peers, but rather addresses the issue after class. The other major component of the "golden rule" requires students to always be prepared for class. Each student has a science binder where all of their notes, worksheets and assessments are kept. In order to facilitate this method of organization, Mr. Reis hole punches everything he hands out in class, that way there is no excuse for materials not making their way into the binder. Mr. Reis also requires that most assignments be completed in pencil, in order to keep pages organized and easily editable. The students were also instructed and continue to be instructed on note taking procedures. Each section of the book is outlined into the binder, for homework, before it is taught in class, Mr. Reis has dubbed his outlining procedure "Power Notes." When he checks the homework at the beginning of the period he looks to see if vocabulary terms have been defined and underlined, if important diagrams have been sketched in, and also wether or not the outline is too long or short based on the length of the chapter. Many students go overboard when taking notes and jot down everything. "Power Notes" are used in all of his classes.
In his Biology classes, Mr. Reis spends the beginning of the year going over the scientific method, designing and experiment (variables, controls etc.), and analytical processes, such as graphing.
Reflection:
So far I am really impressed with the way that Mr. Reis handles his classroom, it is always under control and, as the "golden rule" states, conducive to learning. The first thing I picked up on was the amount of respect that the students have for their teacher, they can interact as friends but never cross the line. Mr. Reis keeps the respect going in the classroom by addressing individual student issues after class, thereby not embarrassing students in front of friends and peers. I feel that these situations, especially allow Mr. Reis to show that the respect in his classroom is mutual, not one-sided. I definitely want a classroom where students do not dread my authority, and know that I will respect them as long as there is respect coming my way as well. It makes the entire classroom environment more positive and upbeat. The methods of organization in Mr. Reis's classes are ideal. The binder and "Power Notes" work to keep the students organized, but are not overly structured so that they can not add their own individual methods of organization that they find helpful. I think that it is essential to teach students proper note-taking strategies, otherwise they will be apt to highlight or copy down the entire chapter of a book, rather than picking out the important information.
Going over the basics at the beginning of the year in a Biology class is also a practice that I will pick up. Due to the fact that Mr. Reis's classroom is sooooo lab oriented, it makes things smoother if the students know how the Scientific Method, and Scientific Experimentation works. Mr. Reis also takes things one step further by explaining analytical processes and graphing. These are skills that students will most definitely need in other classes as well as later on in life. Students will also better understand the main ideas behind the experiments they are preforming in class if they are able to analyze the data and findings.
Observation/Reflection #0: Class Policies
Ask your cooperating teacher about their class policies. How do they introduce their policies and enforce them throughout the year? Does he or she begin the year going over basic skills, e.g. measurement, or do they begin the year with course topics? Obtain a copy of any handouts about policies or safety from the first week of class.Placement: Narragansett H.S. , Mr. Reis
Classes Observed: Freshmen Physics/Earth Science, Accelerated Biology
Observation:
Mr.Reis has a very positive classroom atmosphere, fun yet, respectful. He starts out each year by going over his one "golden" rule..."We must maintain and environment conducive to learning." This rule depends on the students being respectful of not only their teacher, but also of one another. If there happens to be a student acting out in class, Mr. Reis does not call them out in front of their peers, but rather addresses the issue after class. The other major component of the "golden rule" requires students to always be prepared for class. Each student has a science binder where all of their notes, worksheets and assessments are kept. In order to facilitate this method of organization, Mr. Reis hole punches everything he hands out in class, that way there is no excuse for materials not making their way into the binder. Mr. Reis also requires that most assignments be completed in pencil, in order to keep pages organized and easily editable. The students were also instructed and continue to be instructed on note taking procedures. Each section of the book is outlined into the binder, for homework, before it is taught in class, Mr. Reis has dubbed his outlining procedure "Power Notes." When he checks the homework at the beginning of the period he looks to see if vocabulary terms have been defined and underlined, if important diagrams have been sketched in, and also wether or not the outline is too long or short based on the length of the chapter. Many students go overboard when taking notes and jot down everything. "Power Notes" are used in all of his classes.
In his Biology classes, Mr. Reis spends the beginning of the year going over the scientific method, designing and experiment (variables, controls etc.), and analytical processes, such as graphing.
Reflection:
So far I am really impressed with the way that Mr. Reis handles his classroom, it is always under control and, as the "golden rule" states, conducive to learning. The first thing I picked up on was the amount of respect that the students have for their teacher, they can interact as friends but never cross the line. Mr. Reis keeps the respect going in the classroom by addressing individual student issues after class, thereby not embarrassing students in front of friends and peers. I feel that these situations, especially allow Mr. Reis to show that the respect in his classroom is mutual, not one-sided. I definitely want a classroom where students do not dread my authority, and know that I will respect them as long as there is respect coming my way as well. It makes the entire classroom environment more positive and upbeat. The methods of organization in Mr. Reis's classes are ideal. The binder and "Power Notes" work to keep the students organized, but are not overly structured so that they can not add their own individual methods of organization that they find helpful. I think that it is essential to teach students proper note-taking strategies, otherwise they will be apt to highlight or copy down the entire chapter of a book, rather than picking out the important information.
Going over the basics at the beginning of the year in a Biology class is also a practice that I will pick up. Due to the fact that Mr. Reis's classroom is sooooo lab oriented, it makes things smoother if the students know how the Scientific Method, and Scientific Experimentation works. Mr. Reis also takes things one step further by explaining analytical processes and graphing. These are skills that students will most definitely need in other classes as well as later on in life. Students will also better understand the main ideas behind the experiments they are preforming in class if they are able to analyze the data and findings.